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    Monkeypod Kitchen

    4.2 (1.9k reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Monkeypod Kitchen Photos

    MONKEYPOD KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

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    Reviews With Photos - Monkeypod Kitchen

    Shrimp and cornbread
    Joyce Y.

    I can see why this place is the current hot spot... and I will not be surprised if it stays hot, hot, hot, because it is incredible. The restaurant is basically on top Of the ocean and the views take your breath away. Pro tip: try and get a sunset reservation and bring a charged phone for lots of pictures and videos. The food was soooooo good! My favorite dish was 100% the cornbread with shrimp: it was savory and spicy and a perfect amount. Even the kids seimen noodles were delicious and a large portion. Our drinks were always filled and we received the best desserts.

    Menu
    Jackie Z.

    My sister ordered the poke tacos, raviolis truffle fries as appetizers. I LOVED the poke tacos. For dinner, I had a Mai Tai and fish and chips. The fish were swordfish a the fish were so dense and yummy. I've never had swordfish fish and chips before. The aioli sauce that came with it was so yummy! Emily was our server and asked what our group of 17 was for an event. We told her we were celebrating my sister's wedding so she brought us pieces of pie to share. The strawberry pie was so yummy. We were so sad to learn that the orange cream sickle was out, but we tried the mango one and it was good as well. I love supporting a locally owned restaurant where they locally source their fresh veggies, fruit, and other ingredients. I hope to come back another time and try other foods.

    AmberAyame T.

    Enjoyed it a lot tonight. The live music is always great and appreciated. The servers are always really nice and attentive. Food was really good. Got the mushroom and then the margarita pizzas. Got the jalapeño mashed potatoes and the ravioli app and the garlic fries. Leaving full and happy.

    Drinks
    Shaundra N.

    They absolutely nailed it!! There's a reason they have so many amazing reviews here. Drinks, food, service, ambience - this place does it all and they do it right! Our sever Tony was an absolute gem helped to guide our orders by our taste, and didn't disappoint! Everything was so good, we insisted on finding the manager to give our compliments before leaving and almost came back the very next day!

    Isabela M.

    I went 2 times the week I was in Hawaii. My servers were fantastic. Mai tais were incredible. Didn't get a pic but the poke tacos and lobster deviled eggs were my favorite. Ordered the Margherita pizza and garlic fries as well and those were decent. Very busy both times I went.

    View
    Allison B.

    We made reservations accidentally during happy hour and were pleased to see some things we wanted to try were discounted, including the taro dumplings and the pizza! The menu was a fun take on seafood dishes and traditional beachfront restaurants. The hosts were the sweetest, and our server, Kylee, was so attentive and kind! She gave her recommendations for dishes, told us about happy hour, and refilled our drinks before we got a chance to ask! The band, Kaleo and Emile, were the sweetest and most talented singers. I appreciated that I could hear the music without it overpowering conversations at the table! Finally, the indoor-outdoor seating was perfectly temperate, with stunning ocean views, live music, and comfortable seating! I definitely recommend MonkeyPod for great service, wonderful food curated in a thoughtful menu, and beachy vibes!

    Truffle fries
    Jasa M.

    my favorite meal of the vacation! came here for father's day lunch with my husband and daughter, and the live music really added to the ambiance. our server was amazing, answered all of our questions, and gave us great recommendations. the food was AMAZING!! my daughter got the complimentary butter and cheese noodles, which you can never go wrong with. my husband and i shared the poke tacos and the fish sandwich with a side of truffle fries. the truffle fries could have used a little more truffle flavor, but they were still really good! both the tacos and the fish sandwich were so fresh and flavorful. i would definitely recommend either of those dishes. if you like something light and fruity to drink, definitely get the ube cocktail! our server recommended it to me, and it ended up being my favorite drink of the trip. 10/10 would come back again!

    Truffle pizza
    Min Z.

    In my opinion, this place is better than Duke's ‍ it gets very busy so make sure you reserve ahead for big groups or you can sit at the bar. Even with full seating and lines waiting, the whole operation is smooth and organized. The bartenders are sending out drinks non stop, while providing attentive service to the guests at the bar. They also have live music on weekends from local artists. Location is ocean front and you can see the view from most seatings in the restaurant We went for their happy hour menu, good value and variety of food options. Definitely try the truffle pizza - extra cheesy and crispy thin. Wings and shrimp are tasty too. The draft beer is highlight as they have a good mix of local Hawaiian and European beer

    Seated near fireworks
    Jianna I.

    Came here for Fourth of July dinner, and didn't expect to have such a beautiful view of the fireworks! Service was good even though they were very busy. Me and my husband waited about 30 mins for our table. We got the macadamia crusted fish with mango salsa, and it was so delicious! The lemon sauce was so flavorful and fresh, and the fish was cooked perfectly! The margarita pizza we ordered was not good at all - definitely will skip that next time. Was cold and not enough sauce or cheese. Also got the salad with macadamia nuts and oranges - that was very good and tasted fresh but not worth the price for how small the portion was.

    Monkeypod Mai Tais
    Cody P.

    We were primarily interested in the drinks at Monkeypod, so we made a reservation at 9pm after our actual dinner reservation at 7pm elsewhere. We wrapped up our dinner sooner than we had expected, and Monkeypod was a 5 minute walk down the street, so we asked if we could be seated sooner. The hostess said yes and gave us a buzzer, but there was still about a 20 minute wait before we were seated. We started with a round of the infamous Monkeypod Mai Tais. I had seen a clip of a girl on TikTok rolling around in the waves with the caption "me after 3 Monkeypod Mai Tais" and decided that I will most certainly have what she is having. They were so good y'all. I had been in such a lilikoi (passionfruit) mood that entire trip, and that honey-lilikoi foam on top of that Monkeypod Mai Tai is to die for. It's genius, really is what it is. And delicious. And strong. I could barely taste the sting of alcohol in this tropical wonder, but by sip #3, I was feeling the heat. Perfect. I could see why she had 3. Great vibes. On our second round of drinks, we all decided to get something different from each other. Collectively, we ordered the No' Ka Oi, the Ube Rey, and the Fifty-Foot Pole. You'll have to forgive me, but as you can see by the way I described the Mai Tais, by this point, I was not in the best position to be remembering how drinks tasted if you catch my drift. But, I can offer this brief summary. Out of the three drinks ordered on our second round, I liked the Fifty-Foot Pole the best, but nothing held a candle to the Monkeypod Mai Tai.  As for food, we decided to order a couple of appetizers because we were curious and would've felt bad if we had only gotten drinks. Given that we were in Hawai'i, the Kalua Pork & Pineapple Pizza seemed incredibly appropriate. It was better than I was expecting. The spiciness from the jalapenos complemented the sweetness from the pineapple perfectly. All the toppings went together surprisingly well. I also liked the banana cream pie. The chicken wings though... meh.  I shouldn't have felt bad at all though, because when the bill came out... Zoo Wee Mama! The 6 drinks alone were $120 total. The chicken wings were $24 (diabolical). The pizza was $25. The pie was $15. In total, our bill came out to $195 before tip. Keep in mind that we didn't get any entrees, but looking at this, I'm glad we didn't.  If I were to return, I would only order drinks, which would still result in a sizable bill as each one is the price of a reasonable entree. I can't speak on the entrees, but I do think the food we did order was overpriced for what it was. Averaging out the amazing drinks with the.. "hmm.. should this be $25" food, I think that 4 stars is a fair rating.

    Lobster pasta

    We visited Monkeypod Kitchen last night for dinner and waited 45 minutes for a table. During that time, we waited at the bar and enjoyed some yummy mocktails. The bar can definitely get busy, but I enjoyed my non-alcoholic mai tai, and the bartender was very helpful and friendly. Listening to live music and looking at Diamond Head and the rest of the beach during sunset were great! Unfortunately, the bar was the only highlight of our visit. We were seated at the far end of the restaurant, closest to Diamond Head. The heat of the kitchen kept pouring out (despite being several tables away). This made our visit unbearable. Food was slow to arrive and just fine - bad value, but on par for Waikiki. Service was non-existent.

    Crispy dumplings
    Anastasiya K.

    Monkeypod is always a vibe. The service, the drinks, the attention to detail... always so good. Best place to get a good mai tai. This time around though, skip the lobster deviled eggs honestly not it. Weird flavor combo for lobster. Get a different app and you'll have a much better time lol.

    Ivy C.

    Come for the good food, gorgeous view and good service! Unlike many of the other large, touristy restaurant chains in Waikiki, this is one of the better ones. Make sure to make reservations and ask for a view of the water! You absolutely must get the ahi tuna, lobster deviled eggs, macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi, wood-fired pizza, and banana cream pie. People love their mai tais, but I didn't try it out. Their wine list could be better but hey, when in Hawaii, get a tropical drink! It'll photo better with that ocean view.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Very good. Nice happy hour specials. Mia tias are very good. Love the pork and pineapple pizza.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Amazing ocean front ambiance! Delicious food and spectacular live music! Highly recommend the pork pizza!

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    3 years ago

    Food and drinks are delicious and the view (directly on the surf) is worth every penny!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Fun place, good food, the music was nice I wished they had a better happy hour menu and drinks.

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    2 years ago

    Great Mai Tais! Just ok food, but that's typical for touristy places. We loved the Mai Tais so much that we came back numerous times.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food was so good. Ambiance was great and views were amazing. Staff was plentiful and very attentive

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Always a WINNER! Never a bad experience. Hands down BEST Mai Tai's in the 808! We love all the bartenders- great service.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Really good & locally grown food. I would definitely recommend the chicken wings!!!!!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Loved this during our stay this past week in Hawaii definitely would recommend love the breakfast !!

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    3 years ago

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    Page 39 of 47

    Monkeypod Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Monkeypod Kitchen

    Is there take out?

    Yes , you can take-out but the View of the Ocean is worth the price. Just ask for a Ocean View Table

    Where do we park and do you accommodate for handicap parking?

    They have valet parking service at the hotel.

    Is there happy hour on Memorial Day?

    How much is valet parking?

    Do you need a reservation?

    Walk-ins are welcome, but I would highly recommend reservations as it can be busy during peak eating times.

    Do they take reservations?

    Yes

    Where's the best or least expensive place to park? I don't mind walking some .

    Best to Uber. Less hassle.

    Do they have any gluten-free pasta or gluten-free pizza?

    As of springtime 2024, there's no mention of gluten-free options. Italian Tipo 00 flour is specified for their pizzas. Sorry.

    Is it dog friendly?

    I had dinner here on 3/17/24 and the table next to us had a dog. It barked every couple mins for a half hour and the restaurant did nothing. I'd say that's pretty dog-friendly.

    Is it possible for 8 people to have an ocean view seat?

    Most of the restaurant is ocean view so there's lots of seats to fit 8 people. If you're asking about beach front ocean views, it's possible to get two 4 tops, but I'm sure the wait will be long. Everyone wants those seats and it's way easier to… Read more

    How can I get a copy off a receipt?

    If you go into the restaurant I believe they will be able to reprint a copy for you.

    View All 19 Questions

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    Taqueria La Marea

    Taqueria La Marea

    4.6
    (313 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    There was parking across the street for us luckily since all the curbside spots were taken. The…read morerestaurant is right on the corner and once you walk in the counter to order is right there. The special today was a torta for $17.50 that I'll be getting next time, but I came here for tacos with my husband. We got there around 12:30 pm and just happened to beat the rush! I ordered our food for takeout, and it came out pretty fast. I ordered the Vampiro tacos, which is 4 open faced birria tacos. It doesn't come with consommé, and didn't need it to be honest. My husband got the 3 for $15 tacos, carne asada, pork belly, and birria. All good! Inside was pretty clean and nice and breezy for a Hawai'i day in February. We will definitely be coming back!

    Taqueria, La Marea it's located and lower Kalihi, on the corner of Republican and Kalihi Street…read more They've been around for at least five years that I recall. I remember dining there when they first opened. Parking was a problem, and still is, but! It's worth dealing with the parking issue for some delicious Hispanic food. Average price is five dollars per taco. It is pricey, but good. You'll get the same effect and satisfaction with the burrito and probably lesser and cost when you think about it. They are a no-frills establishment. That said you really don't need all the add-ons like guacamole or salsa. Food is extremely tasty and delicious as is. Be there I'll be square

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    Menu
    Menu
    Hours.
    Hours.
    Hours.

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    Hours.
    Taqueria El Ranchero

    Taqueria El Ranchero

    4.0
    (2.4k reviews)
    19.5 mi
    $$

    We got here on a Monday, the day before Cinco de Mayo. We were having dinner with family before…read morethey returned home from vacation. Mexican sounded good to everyone so we picked this spot and we're all very happy we did. Our server was kind and attentive. The place was lovely and decorated with just the amount of fun you expect. Some great photo ops in there. He even told us they were having a mariachi band tomorrow and invited us to come back. The food from the start with nachos and salsa to the end with tres leches was all delicious. I ordered the chorizo queso and it was fantastic. My son ordered the guacamole and it was so fresh and limey. Also delicious. My grandkids shared a quesadilla which was definitely large enough to do so with. My oldest grandson ordered a torte and he loved it. Also a generous portion. My son and I both ordered the grande burrito. He got his wet and I didn't. His was served on a plate and mine came wrapped in foil in a basket. I wish it would have also come on a plate. I like to cut it up to eat and the foil made that difficult to do. We ordered the tres leches to go because we were all so full. Enjoyed it the next day. Three of us could share on piece. It's delicious but very rich.

    First time here. They have a grab and go area with a few tables and stools and a cantina side with…read morefull service and a bar. Wanted to sit and eat. The tables were full initially bc it was HH on the cantina side so we just ordered drinks then went to the other side to order food. Didn't realize if we order food on the grab and go side that we can't sit on the cantina side. They brought us our drinks. A table opened up shortly after then we went to sit but they told us since we got food from the other side we couldn't sit on the cantina side. Service otherwise was average. Got the molcajete which has a variety of meats, rice, beans and small corn tortillas. It's enough to feed 2-3 people. Had some leftovers. Flavors were ok. Not the best Mexican food I ever had but decent.

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    Tacos in the cantina
    Tacos in the cantina
    WATERMELON SANGRIAS
    WATERMELON SANGRIAS
    SEAFOOD WET BURRITO

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    SEAFOOD WET BURRITO

    Monkeypod Kitchen - tacos - Updated July 2026

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